Switch



H. E. NORVIEL Oct. 28, 1930.

SWITCH Filed Nov. 29, 1929 latented et 2 3, 1930 irlehdll HARRY E. ll-OBVIEL, OF ANDERSON, ENDEAIEA, ASSIGNOB TO DELCO-REMY CORPORA- TIGN, F ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CQEEGRATION 0F DELAlVAR-E SWITCH Application filed November 29, 1929.

iliis invention pertains to electric switches esi 'ned for the control of a plurality ct cirand s particularly concerned with Lllllii ype of sw tch mounted upon the lower end of ring post of an automotive vehicle and ed for controlling a number of circuits by a controller carried y the post.

It is an 0? ject of in tent invention to provide a switch of the class describes that is simple in construction and compact in form.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a switch structure that is capable of selectively controlling circuits by both an axial and angular movement of parts of the switch structure.

It is a further object of the in ention to provide switch structure having a plurality of movable contacts, and in which axial movement part of the switch structure will co- Lrol certain circnts irrespective of the ang ar position. of said switch structure in controlling other circuits therethrough.

' I i a. further object of the instant invention to pro ide means for maintaining the contacts in engagement with a terminal support at the same time restraining one of the contact members from engagement with said Lerminal support.

Fur ier objects and advantages oi the p inver ion will be apparent from the r -lowing lescription, reference being had to wherein a prethe accompanying drawing, ferred embodiment of one form of he present .ention clearly shown.

in the drawings:

F l an elevational view of a steering p' st of automo e vehicle provided with my improved switch structure, the same beshown sub tanti lly ve tical section.

if 1g. plan view of the switch back w th a section throng he casing supporting the 1 t same... substantially indicated by theline and arrows 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' "s a plan view of one of the contact contributi to the invention.

+l l of 3.

' is a. face view of the driving mem- Serial No. 410,464.

be; supporting the contact plate of Figs. 3 with the same indicated thereon by dct-and-dash lines.

l 6 and 7 are details of the horn contact memben in the dra 2O refers to a position of ie steerirq L est r. nich may be secured to the a1 ie oi the vehicle by the attaching lug :21 and bolt and nut device 22, and may include oer control tubes .43 connected to cont-ol members it at the hub of the steer in heel 25. @ne of these control member as :ao *rminates at the hub oi the wheel with a button 27 and extends beyond the lower end of the post through the attaching flange 28 where LL has driving engagement with the switch structure as will presently appear. In

slant invention the switch structure is osed in a housing 30 of cup form, the o-c-uom b i I secured to a U-shaped bracket 32 havin attaching ears 33, secured e the post 20, by the bolt and The bottom 31 of the cup centrally apertured and g at 35 to provide a sleeve the aperture of the bracket 31, a bearing for the head 36 of a shalt that is drivingly connected rol member 26 by means of a -n the housing there is a dielectric (r g plate -10 having a hub ll, provided with a bore concentric therewith for receiving the shaft 3'7 that has a driving engagement therewith by means of the nonrounded head 36. Thus, driving engagement is provided between the dielectric member l0 and the push-pull controller 26. The member 40, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 5., is further provided with appoint ments including the raised central area or plateau l l supporting the hub a l, which plateau radially grooved at 45, 46, 47 and 48 providing driving engagement and one way mating relation with cooperating extensions d9, 50, 51 and 52 of a contact plate 53. A. por .ion 01" the edge of the plate is removed to provide the arcuate notch 54 that cooperates with a squirtor tongue 55 in. the

p plate 40.

is of relatively open foraminous construc' tion as illustrated. The plate is centrally apertured at 56 of sufficient dimension to be disposed over the hub 41 of the drive plate 40, an'dadjacent this aperture are located the extensions or squirts 49,50, 51 and 52 which provide the driving engagement with the At each apex of the triangular plate, the same is deformed into the contact points 51 58' and 59, and portions of the plate betweenithese contact points and the central aperture 56 are punched out as at 60, 61 and 62 so that each of. the contact points 57,58 and 59 will be joined to the main body of the plate by a'pair of integrally formed dii erging, resilient or flexible arms 63 and 64. Each pair of diverging arms 63 and 64 are bent outof the plane of the main portion of the plate as indicated at 65 in Fig. 4 for a purpose which will presently appear, as illustrated in ig. 1. v

The hub 41 of the dielectric member also supports asecond contact'member as illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. This contact member comprises a washer like ring 7101 resilient metal providing a central aperture 2 fordisposition over the hub 41, and one or more lateral extensions 73, laterally flexed at 74 as illustrated in the detailed showing provide contact engaging portions.

, In assembling these elements with the driving member, a contact urging spring is placed uponthe driving member 40 so as to be disposed about the raised portion 44, and the contact member 53 is then passed over the hub with the extensions 49., 50, 51 and 52 disposed for engagement within the radial slots 45, 46, 4'7 and 48 respectively. This will bring the contact points 57, 58 and 59 in direct engagement with portions of the spring 80, for a purpose presently to appear.

The contact member 70 is then placed over tbehub and second spring 81 is disposed thereagainst to engage the ring portion 71 andforce the same into engagement with the contact member This spring 7 also tends to ma nta n the plate 53 in driving engagement with the plate40. "A switch back 85.is.theiiplaced upon the 30 to close olithe same, and is retained in such position by the tongues 86 peripherally arranged about the casing so md bent against the back. s de thereof as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

' This switch back provides a plurality. of fixed contacts 87 arranged in concentric form about an aperture 88. of the switch back, and adapted for cooperation withone or another of the various contact points 57, 58 and 59 of thecontact plate 53. The fixed contacts 87 may terminate exterior of the switch back in teininal clips 89 asillustrated in Fig. 1. Concentric with the aperture88 the switch back also provides a contact ring 90 that is 1 arranged for engagement by the extensions 73 of the contact plate TO'and may terminate on the rear side of the switch back in a terminal clip 91. Concentric with the aperture 88and within the ring 90,'the switch baci: is provided with a countersinlr-92 within which maybe seated the spring 81. i i

it will be understood of course. that when the switch back is secured to the housing 30', that the switch structure will be confined between it and the bottom 31 of the said housing. The springs 80 and 81 will then be underv compression so that the contact plates 53 and 70 will be maintained in disposition upon the hub 41 with the driving positions of the plate 40 in mating engagement with the reciprocal positions oftlie plate 53, and so that the spring 80 will urge the contact points of the plate 53 individually into engagement with the switch back 85. These facts will obtain throughout the normal disposition of forces within tne switch structure. The constructicn of the contact plate 53 is such as to provide the contact points 57, 58 and 59 as being independently nexible relative to the body of the plate so that when mounted upon the dielectric member 40 and subjected to the urging of the spring forces described, that the contact support assembly will readily, assume the position illustrated in F 1g. 1. The

contact points of the plate 53 will each normally be in engagement with the switch back 85,:and the contact member 70 Wlll be out of engagement with any portion of the switch ac V v I However, the structure is such that the driving member 40 may be moved to any angular position permitted by the stop-provisions 54 V and 55 and at the same time will be permissible of axial movement independent of any of said angular positions. 7 That is, the

contact assembly'maybe moved to any of the angular positions, and irrespective of that angular position may be moved axially without affecting the angular position of said movement.

In main the spring .81 is a return spring for the contact member 7 0 so as to move it away from the contact ring when pressure upon the control member 27 is released, but

it may, however, contribute to the movement of the entire contact actuating assembly upon such release. The spring 80 performs a dual function, in that, it not only maintainsthe contact points 57, 58 and 59, in engagement with the switch back, but also functions to re,- turnthe contact assembly to the position of rest as exhibited in F 1'. directly that pressure is released upon the control member27. This aids in Withdrawing the contact member 70 from the contact ring 90. This spring force tends to urge the. driving member 40 and the contact points of the plate 53 against opposing walls of the switch housing.

\Vhile the form of embodiment of the present invention as her in disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

hat is claimed is as follows:

1. A circuit controller adapted for use on an automotive vehicle, comprising in combination, a steering post providing a depressible and rotatable control member operable theresecured to the end a 1 operable a terminal plate, and means engagii g said terminal plate, driving member and contact members permitting rotation and depression of said control member.

2. In a switch for use with automotive vehicles the combination comprisin a switch case and a di icd1 member therein, said case and member being centrally apertured for reception of the drive shaft, a pair of contact members drivingly engaging said die-lectric member and in cooperable engagement with contacts supported by a switch back closing said case, one of said fined contacts being a ring concentric with said drive shaft and disposed for engagement with one of said contact members upon depression of said shaft.

3. In a switch of the class described, the combination comprising, a cupeshaped switch housing providing a central aperture in the bottom thereof, a dielectric driving member within the housing journalled for movement concentric with said case. aperture, and providing a plura of r grooves upon Ll inner face thereof, a pair of contact plates concentric with said'journal portion one of said plates having axial extensions receivable by the grooves of said dielectric member, a switch back closing said casing and provid ing fixed contacts in cooperable engagement with each of said contact members, means urging the contact plates against the dielectric member, and means urging one of the contact members against the switch back.

4. In a switch of the class described, the combination comprising, a cup-shaped switch housing providing a central aperture in the bottom thereof, a dielectric driving member within the housing journalled for movement concentric with said case aperture, a shaft having a bearing in the aperture of said case and drivingly engaging said dielectric memher, a pair of contact members drivingly supported by said dielectric member, and a switch back closing said housing and providing terminal members for cooperative en gagement with each of said contact members, means about said shaft urging both of said contacts into engagement with said dielectric member, and means disposed between said dielectric member and one of said contact members urging the latter into engagement with said witch back, said dielectric member being epressiblefor actuation of one of said contact members and rotatable for actuation of another of said contact mema \1 (4 71 1 i, on compr i a cu, shaped swit i1 viding a ctric driving memjournalled for more I concentric with said case aperture, and providing a hub portion upon which is dis- I of contact members, one of said on maintaining the same in enio switch back. a s. of the class described oination comprising, a cup-shaped sv aperture in the driving member ed for moven'ient us providing a ce thereof, a dielec inc lioulsmg join journalled within perture of said case and having nonrotatable engagement with said dielectric member, contact means carried by aid di lectric member, one oi rid contact s having engagement for rotation with 'ii dielectric member, while another of said neans may move a tra tric nall aperture, a shaft iall r thereof independent a switch backclosing the casing terminal members in cooperfor each of said contact table and depressible coni'th the shaft for selective- 1 contact means.

1 mbination comprislieiectric drivin member ind actuatable from with electric member providch is disposed pair of 100 said contact members l iil dielec- 1 supported in coop r engagement w one or the other of act members, means urging one of contact members "'oni one or more 7 i terminal mer ibers, c ad means for urgie other of said co tact members into ment with others of id terminal same, s

b about whi c members, 0

switch, the combination comprisa dielectric driving member ag and actuatable fron witl to a plurality of axial and anout the same, into a plurality of axial and angular positions, said dielectric member providing a hub portion and radial slots therefrom upon one face thereof, a pair of contact members carried by said hub portion, one of said-contact members having provisions for engaging the slots of said dielectric member to be rotatable therewith, a closure for the switch case providing a pluralityof contacts and supporting means urging the contacts "upon the hub and into engagement with said dielectric member, and means interposed between one of the contact plates and said dielectric member maintaining engagement of said contact member with the closure member.

10. In a switch, the combination comprismg, a housing, a dielectric driving member within the housmg and actuatable from without the same, said dielectric member providing a hub portion receiving a pair of contact members, one of saidcontact members having driving engagement with said dielectric member and providing a plurality of resilientlysupported contact points, a switch back for-said housing providing a plurality of contacts, some engageable with each of said contact members, means concentric with the hub and engaging the switch back for maintaining the contact members upon said dielectric member, and means disposed against the contact points maintaining them in engagement with said switch back, saiddielectric member being rotatable for controlling the position of said switch points and also being depressible for controlling circuits through the other of said contact members,

11. In an electric switch, the combination comprising, a. casing, a dielectric driving member within the same, said driving member and case being coaxially apertured for the reception of a driving shaft, which shaft is journalled for rotation and axial movement through the case aperture and is nonrotatably associated with said dielectric member, said dielectric member having a hub portion supporting a pair of contact members and maintaining them in insulated relation with respect to said'shaft, one of said contact members having driving engagement with said dielectric member, a

portion, one of closure for said case supporting a plurality contact members out of engagement with any" of said contacts, and means adapted for causing one of said contact members to engage a fixed contact irrespective of the contact engagement of said other contact member.

12. In an electric switch the combination comprising, a'driving member having a hub portion and radially spaced slots, a contact plate disposed about said hub and havingextensions providing a driving engagement with said driving member, means enclosing thedriving'member and contact plate, and means disposed between the contact plate and driving member urging the contactpla-te and driving member into engagement with opposed parts of the enclosing means.

13. In an electric switch the combination comprising, a driving member ournalled for rotation and for axial movement relative to a switch back, said driving member supporting a contact plate in driving engagement therewith, and normally engaging the switch back irrespective of the rotation of said driv ing member. 1

14:. Inan electric switch the combination comprising, a driving member supported for both axial'and angular movement with respect toa switch back, a pair of contact mem-' bers supported by said driving member, one of said contact members being capable of rotation with. said driving member, and the second of said contact members being axially movable with said driving member irrespective of the angular movement of said member. v

15. In an electric'switch, acontact support assembly comprising in combination, a dielectric driving member providing ahub, acontact plate carried by said hub and having interfitting engagement with parts of said drive ing member whereby said plate willbe rotated upon rotation of the driving member, means retaining the contact member upon the driving member, and means tending to deflect parts of the contact plate away from the driving member.

assembly comprising in combination, a driving member, a contact plate drivingly supported by said member, said platebeing of foraminous construction and providing a, plurality of contact points,-each supported by a pair of converging resilient arms.

17 In an electric switch, a contact support 16. In anelectric switch, a contact support of said plate, whereby said points will be capable of lateral movement relative to the body of said plate.

18. In an electric switch, a contact support assembly comprising in combination, a driving member, a contact plate drivingly supported by said member, said contact plate being of triangular form and of foraminous construction providing a contact point at each apex of said triangular plate, and joined thereto by a pair of diverging resilient arms, whereby said contact points may be flexed relative to the body of said plate.

19. In an electric switch the combination comprising, a casing, a driving plate mounted for axial and angular movement within the casing and supporting contact members, means restraining one of said contact members in open circuit and for retaining one of said contact members in driving engagement with said plate, and means urging another of said contact members into engagement with a part of said casing, said contact urging means permitting axial movement of said driving member as well as engagement of said first contact member, and means operably connected with said drive plate for both axial and angular movement of the same.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

